Photo, Shoot - 26.2.2008 - Eto'o Gets Snap Happy

Photo, Shoot is a new feature at Just-Football, looking at football photography from around the world. We hope it will become a regular feature on the site and of course welcome any contributions which, for all you budding sports photographers out there, can be emailed to just-football@live.com. The first in the series features FC Barcelona hitman Samuel Eto'o celebrating his hat-trick in the 5-1 win against Levante at the Camp Nou by borrowing a nearby cameraman's apparatus and taking a photo of his teammates. A photo of someone taking a photo of someone. All very postmodern.

Cech Howler Hands Spurs Victory as Grant Gets it Wrong - Carling Cup Final Review

Tottenham 2-1 Chelsea (a.e.t.)

In a season that has thus far been punctuated with high-profile goalkeeping errors by English keepers, a glaring mistake from the usually excellent Petr Cech handed Tottenham victory in the Carling Cup final, securing the North Londoners their first major trophy in nine years.

Tottenham came from a goal down after Didier Drogba had given Chelsea a 39th minute lead with a well-placed free-kick and, on the ascendancy after some astute tactical changes by Juande Ramos, their hard work paid off when Wayne Bridge inadvertently handled inside the box and conceded a penalty in the 70th minute. Dimitar Berbatov made no mistake, dispatching coolly from the spot. The game ended level, but in the fourth minute of extra time Spurs took the lead. A Jermaine Jenas free-kick was flapped at miserably by Cech, allowing Jonathan Woodgate to head home the winner and send the Spurs fans delirious. Chelsea pushed forward looking to salvage something from the game, but Tottenham defended resolutely and held out to win the trophy and with it a place in the UEFA Cup next season.

Ultimately, victory was no more than Tottenham deserved. Chelsea were a shadow of their usual self. Often so heartlessly professional once in the lead, the Blues were not at all cohesive as a unit, and questions will no doubt be asked about Avram Grant's tactics and team selection. His decision to play Nicolas Anelka in a left-sided attacking midfield berth backfired as the Frenchman proved ineffectual, and one of the main pre-match decisions - whether to play Michael Ballack or Frank Lampard, he got wrong. The in-form German was omitted, and Lampard had little impact on the game. While Jose Mourinho's domestic Cup final record proved immaculate, Grant has failed his first major test as Chelsea boss however the blame does not lay solely with the Israeli manager, as many of his players were poor on the day and did little to deserve the win. John Terry, Michael Essien and many others the Blues have come to rely on for the big occasions were subdued, and by the end it seemed they were resigned to relinquishing their trophy.

Credit must go to Tottenham on this day at Wembley, for they wanted it more. It told in the players' exertions on the pitch. It told in their tireless work rate, even when a goal down. It told in the look on Dimitar Berbatov's face after he buried the equalising penalty, the oft-unflappably cool Bulgarian bellowing out a manic cry of determination to the fans with something of a possessed look in his eyes. And it told in Robbie Keane's tears of joy at the final whistle as he danced around not quite knowing how to celebrate. Juande Ramos also got the major decisions correct. The introduction of Tom Huddlestone as a substitute gave Spurs balance and poise at a crucial time of the game, and the North London outfit were able to successfully nullify Chelsea's midfield threat. They also defended excellently, with Woodgate and captain Ledley King looking like a very promising partnership in the making, if the pair of them can stay fit for any length of time of course.

Many at Spurs now feel the Carling Cup could prove the beginnings of a period of success for the club with Ramos at the helm, and with the Spanish manager proving his reputation as a master of cup competitions yet again who is to say they cannot go on to bigger things, perhaps starting with the UEFA Cup which continues in March with a last 16 clash against PSV Eindhoven. Either way, their fans' long wait for a trophy is now at an end.

The Ballack Dilemma - Carling Cup Final 2008

When Chelsea and Tottenham meet in the Carling Cup Final on Sunday there will be plenty at stake, and not just local pride and the first domestic honours of the season. For Chelsea, the game could also go a long way to deciding the fate of one of the best players in their recent history. If Frank Lampard does not make the starting eleven at Wembley Stadium, as is widely expected, it will send shockwaves around Stamford Bridge, the ripple of which could ultimately trigger the beginning of the end of the England international’s Chelsea career.

Right now the Blues, and in particular manager Avram Grant have come to a crossroads, and with it the time has come for the perennially gloomy looking Israeli manager to truly show his hand. Since being appointed to replace Jose Mourinho against a wave of supporter discontent back in September 2007, Grant has carried the torch for the West London club admirably, winning twenty-four of his thirty-five games in charge, losing just two and keeping them alive in all four competitions. But for all the recent successes, the feeling persists that the squad is still very much that of Mourinho. Despite noises coming from Stamford Bridge around the time of the self-proclaimed Special One’s departure hinting that the team would take on a fresh new direction, one with attacking intent and plenty of goals, in reality little has changed under Grant’s tenure. Same players, same ethos, same system.

Despite the January signings of Nicolas Anelka and Branislav Ivanovic, a quite lengthy injury list and the African Cup of Nations has meant the opportunity to fathom in exactly what direction Grant wishes to take Chelsea has still never really presented itself. Short of dropping Ashley Cole every now and then little has changed. Now, with a fully fit squad to choose from, Sunday’s final promises to finally reveal exactly what Grant considers his best team. And in it there may be no place for Frank Lampard.

Since recovering from a long term ankle injury, Michael Ballack has appeared regularly for the Blues, and with a string of fine performances has shown precisely what made him one of Europe’s most coveted midfielders in the first place. Given that Michael Essien is more or less an automatic starter and Claude Makelele remains an invaluable defensive shield in games of this importance, it seems Avram Grant’s true midfield dilemma concerns who will occupy the third central midfield berth – Frank Lampard or Michael Ballack.

Ballack represents form and, currently, leadership; part of Chelsea’s new guard. Largely disregarded under Mourinho, Grant has shown great faith in the talented German during Lampard’s spell on the sidelines, making the former Bayern Munich star captain on numerous occasions. Lampard on the other hand represents the old guard – an ‘Untouchable’ under Mourinho and not only a fans’ favourite but a player with over 100 goals to his name in the blue of Chelsea. Grant must choose whether to go with the popular choice or, perhaps, the sensible one.

In doing so he must bear in mind the potentially grave consequences of leaving Lampard out. Despite proving his fitness with a two-goal cameo appearance against Huddersfield in the FA Cup 5th Round, Lampard was subsequently dropped for the Champions League clash with Olympiakos in midweek, prompting the first public hints of unrest from the Chelsea midfielder. "I don't know how much rotation there'll be in the future but it's important we get a settled team in the run-in," he stated. "Any good team I've been involved in has had a pretty settled line-up and it'll be down to the manager to find that." The implications are clear – Lampard considers himself a key part of that settled line-up, and does not expect to be rotated.

Amidst the backdrop of an increasingly urgent contract situation, any lingering discontent may well push him towards the exit door at Stamford Bridge. Lampard's contract expires in summer 2009 and, under Article 17 of Fifa's transfer regulations he would be entitled to buy out the final two years of his contract - albeit at a cost of roughly £8 million. This could tempt clubs around Europe, with Barcelona apparently long-time admirers. Exclusion from the team on an occasion as distinguished as a Wembley cup final would be highly symbolic, and could persuade him to consider his future elsewhere.

Were all this to transpire of course it would not be the first time the fate of a club’s talisman were determined by the Carling Cup final. Its funny how in recent seasons, a competition considered by many as little more than inconsequential has in fact shaped the careers of some of English football’s most prominent characters. In 2006, it was the omission of Ruud van Nistelrooy from Sir Alex Ferguson’s starting lineup against Wigan that severely fractured their once strong relationship, and ultimately it proved the catalyst that saw the Dutchman leave Manchester United some months later. Jose Mourinho too considered the 2005 Carling Cup triumph over Liverpool as one that helped shape his legacy at the club, claiming that victory in the final provided the all-important spark that gave his players the belief they needed on the way to their first league title in 50 years.

So as we approach what promises to be an engaging cup final between two fierce London rivals, it will be interesting to see just how Avram Grant decides to call one of the toughest dilemmas of his embryonic Chelsea tenure. For Frank Lampard’s career, the consequences of Grant’s decision could prove to be as serious as his manager’s hangdog expression.

Good Player Guide #3 - Arthur Boka

Arthur Boka

(VfB Stuttgart / Côte d’Ivoire)

The obligations of a full back in the modern game have fundamentally changed. No longer is it enough to simply defend well, contain the opposing winger and prevent crosses coming into the box. Nowadays the top players in this position must show the ability to do more, which has led to an increasing demand for full backs that can not only defend but also attack. They must now have the endless stamina to maraud up and down the touchline, in order to support offensive moves when the team is in possession and retreat back into an effective defensive position when not on the ball. They must have the vision and control to be able to distribute the ball, whether down the wing or in-field, in order to help maintain possession. And, importantly, they must be able to overlap their team-mates on whichever side of the pitch they occupy and deliver crosses with pinpoint accuracy.

Arthur Boka can do it all.

A pacy, attack-minded left back, Boka started all but one game for Côte d’Ivoire in the 2008 African Cup of Nations, and over the course of the tournament added not only to his number of caps for the Elephants but also to his growing reputation within the game thanks to some superb performances. A product of ASEC Abidjan’s youth academy, the 24-year old was clearly very determined to make it in football and showed as much when, just a young boy, he confidently marched into ASEC Mimosa’s famous academy and asked for a trial. Having impressed enough to win a contract there, years later Boka moved on to Belgian side Beveren, a path treaded by many graduates of the academy in Abidjan. He played there for two years before RC Strasbourg spotted his prodigious talents and signed him in 2004.

It was during his two seasons at Strasbourg that he really started to show his vast potential, and when the club were relegated from the French Ligue Une in 2006, several clubs showed interest in the Ivorian. Eventually it was VfB Stuttgart that won the race to sign him, and in his first season he helped guide the Southern German outfit to their first league title in 15 years.

A highly determined defender, Boka marries skill with direct running and is an outstanding dribbler of the ball. Throw in a wicked left foot and dangerous precision from crosses (He was Côte d’Ivoire’s main set piece taker) and it is clear to see why, at just 24, he is so highly rated. What most impresses though is that he possesses in abundance both the necessary athleticism to get forward and support attacks down the left hand side as well as the energy to get back and defend solidly if and when his team’s attacks break down. This means that, more or often than not, counter attacks are rarely successful down his flank because he is quickly back into position – an invaluable attribute for any side.

At just 5ft 5in (1.66m) heading is not particularly a strong point, but what the Ivorian lacks in aerial ability he makes up for with impressive positioning and a surprisingly capable spring. With clubs like Liverpool and Inter Milan said to have sent scouts to the Gottlieb-Daimler Stadion regularly this season, and having putting in several majestic displays in Ghana, it is clear that Arthur Boka has a very bright future in the game should he continue to progress in the manner he already has.

Barnsley Triumph, Jeff Stelling goes Beserk...

For fans of Soccer Saturday this clip is a classic, as Matt Le Tissier commentates on the last few moments of Barnsley's shock 2-1 win against Liverpool at Anfield in the FA Cup 5th Round. Brian Howard's late goal prompts fits of laughter, Jeff Stelling going crazy and Phil Thompson looking like he is about to cry. What more could you want? Enjoy.

FA Cup 5th Round in Review - The Questions

It’s the questions, ah yeh the questions….

Liverpool 1-2 Barnsley

A replay with Luton, behind twice against Havant & Waterlooville and now this - are Liverpool a laughing stock? Will the Champions League save Rafael Benitez, again? Does Simon Davey have the potential to coach at a higher level? Just how big an upset was this?

Chelsea 3-1 Huddersfield Town

Exactly what is Chelsea’s best starting eleven when all players are fit? Does Paulo Ferreira have a future with the Blues under Avram Grant? Does Ashley Cole? Will Huddersfield finish closer to the top or the bottom of League One?

Manchester United 4-0 Arsenal

Is showboating a form of mockery and therefore wrong, or just harmless and entertaining? Will William Gallas be investigated by the FA for an off-the-ball kick aimed at Nani? Will United draw yet another Premiership side? Will Arsenal be back to win the league?

Coventry City 0-5 West Bromwich Albion

Is Roman Bednar the best player outside the Premiership in England? Why allow Iain Dowie to start making signings and then sack him? Was it a sending off or is Mark Halsey just inept?

Bristol Rovers 1-0 Southampton

City are pushing for promotion to the Premiership and Rovers are one game away from Wembley. Is this the year of the Bristolian? Have the likes of Bristol Rovers and Barnsley restored the ‘magic of the cup’?

Cardiff City 2-0 Wolverhampton Wanderers

Lets be honest, are Wolves really a big club? Cardiff last got to the quarter-finals in 1927, and that year they went on to win the competition. Can they do it again?

Sheffield United 0-0 Middlesbrough

Is Kevin Blackwell the right man to take the Blades forward? With the amount of strikers at Bramall Lane just what is his best forward pairing? Will Afonso Alves prove a good signing? Will Mido ever order a salad?

Preston North End 0-1 Portsmouth

What was Darren Carter thinking? Is David James in the form of his life? Or has he always been this good, just the press have rather concentrated on vilifying him for his various goalkeeping errors? Do Preston have enough to stay in the Championship?

Game 39 - The Death of English Football?

There is a stench around English football at the moment. Last weekend I watched Aston Villa v Newcastle United with a strange feeling in the pit of my stomach. The fans at Villa Park were there but, through no fault of their own, not quite part of it all. Somehow disengaged. One of the fundamental bedrocks that make football what it is centres around the idea of team and fans as one – fighting towards the same aims. But with all twenty Premier League directors voting unanimously in favour of moving games away from places like Villa Park and playing them abroad, this match as well as many others in the Premiership that week took on a hollow feel. Upon scoring the first goal of his hat-trick John Carew ran towards fans in the Doug Ellis Stand and, spotting a gleeful supporter with outstretched arms, decided to hug him. Perhaps Carew himself could sense the increasing feeling of disenfranchisement amongst English football fans and thought to address the situation with his own personal gesture. It was a nice moment, team and fans in harmony. He was booked for it.

The sense of unease from which I could not rid myself made the game feel haunted. The action was there and yet simultaneously elsewhere. Like a child dragged to a dentist against his will, as much as he is there in body, in spirit he is miles away, lost to overwhelming ambivalence. He thinks – ‘I am here, but I would rather be somewhere else.’ Like Dubai perhaps. Or Los Angeles. In light of the Premier League’s revelations, Villa Park did not feel as one, with all in unison striving towards the same goals. Instead, off-putting noises emanated from somewhere in the distance, drowning out the game’s passion and nullifying the chants and emotions. At first I could not put my finger on it. Then I realised. The piercing din from afar was that of cogs and clunky machinery. It was the drone of ringing tills and rigorous number-crunching, carried out while suits in ivory towers greedily plotted ways to drain yet more money from the game.

In the last week the Premier League has laid its cards firmly on the table. Richard Scudamore’s statement, his greasy, smarmy manifesto may as well have read this: ‘We have outgrown English football and its fans. There is money to be made elsewhere.’ Succinct, to the point, but at least honest. Instead he acted the politician and hid his crafty profiteering behind soppy human interest stories trying to invoke that, to the average season ticket holder, flying to Bangkok and back for a league game should be relished as the chance to prove beyond all doubt one’s status as the ultimate fan, one with the type of praiseworthy commitment to make you the envy of your peers. Why wouldn’t the ordinary fan want to follow his team all the way to Malaysia was the angle from which Scudamore tried to win over supporters.

Unfortunately for him, the real agenda has been quite brutally exposed by many since the plans emerged, and any rhetoric aiming to mask the issue as to do with anything other than lining pockets has proved transparent. ‘Let's not kid ourselves, this is all about money,’ Charlton Athletic’s chief executive Peter Varney told BBC Sport, before pointing out the solemn reality. ‘But clubs will vote for it because they are promised extra guarantees on their next television contract.’ David Gold summed up the ethos of the proposals. ‘This will enable all 20 clubs to expand their global image, and I find that quite exciting. The purists won't like it but we are a business.’ There, in a nutshell, is what the whole issue boils down to.

A good thing?

In itself, playing games abroad might not necessarily be a bad thing. There are tangible arguments that support the idea. It would spread the popularity of the English game, and bring the excitement of the Premiership to several new audiences. For young children in poorer parts of the world who might realistically never receive the chance to travel to England and see their heroes play, such a proposal would be very appealing, and looked upon in that light the suggestion could even be considered admirable.

However, the reality is that this global expansion initiative has little or nothing to do with spreading the game at grassroots level around the world. Richard Scudamore and the Premier League’s club directors harbour no real intention of creating international solidarity through noble distribution of the sport England created to the universal roots from which football’s support spring. Will these principled guardians of the English game take the Premiership ‘brand’ to the humble streets of Africa? Will games be played for the benefit of those in the favelas of South America? Wherever the game is spread, will it be done so with free tickets for locals and young children to allow them to share in the splendour of the Premier League? The fact that one of the key ideas when these plans were announced was that cities would have to bid for the right to host games suggests not.

What makes the proposed scheme even more incredible is the breathtaking arrogance with which the Premier League announced it, a revelation that has only more recently come to light. Far from being meticulously planned, there appears to have been little or no discussion with the countries to which they are looking to hawk their product. ‘There was no consultation, I just read about it in the newspapers,’ said Mohamed Bin Hammam, president of the Asian Football Confederation. ‘There are some issues that we've got which would cause us to be very hesitant,’ stated Sunil Gulati, head of the US Soccer Federation. Judging by UEFA president Michel Platini’s reaction even FIFA were apparently not consulted. ‘I was laughing. I laughed because it will never be received by FIFA, by the fans and by the national associations. It's a nonsense idea.’ His baffled laughter no doubt struck a chord with many.

The logistics of a Premiership global expansion also appear questionable at best. Richard Scudamore announced the league would ‘not [go] to places where there is fully developed professional football.’ With national football leagues already set-up in countries throughout the globe, the implication here is that a bunch of stuffy executives will somehow handpick leagues they deem inferior and storm in to ‘expand their global image’ as Gold so wonderfully put it. Such an attitude is completely derogatory to recognised associations in the Premier League’s target countries; leagues like the MLS or the Japanese J-League, whose time-honoured infrastructures are already well-established. Put simply, this is imperialism the football way.

Of course, this idea has been coming. As soon as the Miami Dolphins touched down at Wembley for a competitive NFL clash, you could practically see lightbulbs flashing in the heads of every sporting director in the land. And that game with the New York Giants undoubtedly proved successful. So maybe the globalisation of domestic sport is the logical next step? Who knows? 52 years ago Sir Matt Busby defied all conventional wisdom and took Manchester United into European competition against the wishes of many, and this bold act shaped football as we know it today. Richard Scudamore might well revolutionise the game and be remembered as a pioneer. But with the strength of ill-feeling reaching boiling point, he might also irreparably damage the already fragile relationship between fan and club in this country as we know it. Whichever way you look at it, the stakes are high.

African Cup of Nations 2008 in Review pt.1 - Best XI

Thats it. Egypt.

As Mohamed Aboutreika gracefully slid the ball past Idriss Carlos Kameni and bowed his head down onto Accra's turf in measured jubilation, the fervent multitude of people gripped by the 2008 African Cup of Nations were presented their answer to the ultimate question, the one that had nagged away at them for weeks. Yes, it is Egypt that win the tournament, and they rightly take home both the plaudits and of course the trophy. Theirs was a style of football that wholesomely reaffirmed their status as Africa's finest, having already demonstrated so in 2006, and as a nation whose credentials went rather ignored in the buildup to the competition while bookmakers and journalists (myself included) talked up other candidates, Hassan Shehata's men went on to prove that when it comes to the Cup of Nations, the Pharaohs remain the dominant force in Africa.

That is how it ended. However as is often the case, and not just in football, we do not always define matters by the way in which they end. The journey, with all its highs and lows, plays just as much a part in characterising an event as the manner in which it concludes. And so, while Egypt gloriously lifting their trophy for the sixth time will rightly live long as one of the abiding memories of the 2008 Cup of Nations there remain many other lasting memories of what has been an excellent competition. As we look at the tournament in review, we intend to revisit some of the moments, players and other elements that made this competition such an overwhelming success. Starting with the Team of the Tournament.

It can often be difficult to choose a Best XI in competitions like this. With a number of worthy candidates it can sometimes prove hard to find a balance. There are the players that through fine performances emerge from relative obscurity and make a name for themselves on the big stage, and then there are the well-known, already established stars who continue to do what they do best. With so many high quality performers over the three weeks, I therefore present two teams, one being what I consider the Best XI, the other a 2nd XI for those I feel cannot be ignored. A team of players worthy of honourable mention, but that narrowly miss out on the Best XI. You may agree or disagree with my choices. If so, do let me know. I am particularly keen to hear just which side you think would win in a head-to-head clash between the 1st and 2nd XI. So without further ado:

Team of the tournament:

Essam EL-HADARI (Egypt)

The best goalkeepers possess the ability to not only make saves, but also inspire confidence in the defenders in front of them. This aura they create breeds a collective sense of composure and vastly contributes to the cohesiveness of the defence as a unit. In El-Hadari, Egypt have a keeper that offers both these attributes. Commanding his area like a general, he demonstrated not only remarkable agility but also the organisational skills that helped keep the Pharaohs tight at the back.

Njitap GEREMI (Cameroon)

Showed that, despite his fairly indifferent form for Newcastle United this season, he remains a talented player with robust qualities. Strong in the tackle, positionally aware and defensively sound, Geremi also weighed in with two fine goals from free-kicks. Employed by coach Otto Pfister as a right back, the Cameroon international was also given mandate to get forward and support attacks, and he very capably found the right balance between defence and attack.

Wael GOMAA (Egypt)

Part of a strong Egyptian defence, the centre back was a key figure in thwarting opposition forays into dangerous areas and displayed strength both in the air and along the ground. In Manucho, Didier Drogba and Samuel Eto’o (twice) he came up against some of the tournament’s finest strikers, but held his own in each game and largely kept them at bay.

Arthur BOKA (Côte d'Ivoire)

An outstanding performer at left back for Côte d’Ivoire, Arthur Boka was arguably the most consistent player in the whole competition. See our upcoming Good Player Guide for more.

Abdelkader KEITA (Côte d'Ivoire)

Good vision and awareness, blessed with pace, direct, skilful and also remarkably well-built for a player in his position, Kader Keita’s exertions in Ghana were almost as impressive as his celebration after scoring against Guinea. Another of Côte d’Ivoire’s star performers, he formed an impressive partnership with Emanuel Eboue down the Elephants’ right hand side, and the former Lille man will no doubt be an important player for Olympique Lyonnais as they look to register their seventh consecutive league title.

Yaya TOURE (Côte d'Ivoire)

Until Côte d’Ivoire’s capitulation against Egypt in the semi-finals, Yaya Toure was widely considered the tournament’s all round best player. An almighty presence for his side at the heart of midfield, the Barcelona star drove the team on as both creator and destructor – providing assists, winning tackles and even popping up to score the odd goal. In the end both he and his side hit an Egyptian brick wall, but as one of the tournament’s most exceptional performers, he goes back to Catalunya with head held high.

Michael ESSIEN (Ghana)

What more can be said of Michael Essien that has not been said already? As energetic and influential as ever, the Ghanaian powerhouse once again proved his status as one of the world’s finest midfielders. He weighed in with two goals at crucial times. He was forced to fill in at centre back after John Mensah’s sending off against Nigeria, and did so as if he had played there all his life. As a midfield presence he was sorely missed against Cameroon and indeed had he played there such a tight game may have had a different outcome. Simply immense, and the reason my Best XI has gone 3-5-2. He can always fill in at centre back if needed!

Mohamed ABOUTREIKA (Egypt)

It was perhaps fitting that Mohamed Aboutreika would score the winning goal in this year’s competition (for the second Cup of Nations running might I add). A quite brilliant tournament for a quite brilliant player. See Good Player Guide for more.

Hosni ABD RABOU (Egypt)

The most fitting tribute one could offer to this midfield marauder is that, when announced by officials as the Player of the Tournament, the disapproving grumbles were conspicuous by their absence. No-one could have any complaints. He ran tirelessly, incessantly tracked back and harassed opponents, broke up play – some of the last ditch tackles he made against Côte d’Ivoire almost defied physics, threaded intricate passes and scored goals. A joy to watch, he made a thoroughly impressive contribution both to his team and to the competition in general.

Manucho GONCALVES (Angola)

When Manchester United plucked this 24-year old striker from the relative obscurity of the Girabola (Angolan Premier League) many wondered why. After seeing him in action, United’s basic premise is now quite clear. He offers something quite unlike anything the Premiership champions currently have upfront – a genuine targetman. Capable with both feet and boasting extraordinary ability in the air, his four goals in Ghana mark him down as a very promising player. Though he occasionally drifted out of games, often due to tight marking and lack of service, he remained a threat whenever on the ball, as demonstrated by his goal of the tournament contender against Egypt.

Amr ZAKI (Egypt)

Though he started quietly, Amr Zaki’s level of performance rose as the competition progressed and by the end there was clear evidence that he had grown into the role as Egypt’s focal point upfront. His individual display against Côte d’Ivoire was a particular highlight, with Zaki manfully brushing off the Elephants’ physical backline and scoring two quality goals. At 23 and with several impressive attributes, one imagines a move to Europe could be on the cards in the not too distant future.

2nd XI

Idriss Carlos KAMENI (Cameroon)
Ahmed FATHI (Egypt)
Danny SHITTU (Nigeria)
Andre BIKEY (Cameroon)
Taye TAIWO (Nigeria)
Razak OMOTOYOSSI (Benin)
Alexandre SONG (Cameroon)
ZE KALANGA (Angola)
Samuel ETO'O (Cameroon)
Yassine CHIKHAOUI (Tunisia)
Didier DROGBA (Côte d'Ivoire)

My question to you is, who would win?

African Cup of Nations 2008: Goalwatch

GOALWATCH FINAL UPDATE: With the 2008 African Cup of Nations now sadly over it is time to look once more at Just-Football's Goalwatch, where we have been keeping an eye on both scorers and league contributions from around the world's football divisions. Egypt's 1-0 victory over Cameroon in the final brought the goal tally in the tournament to an incredible 99, which constitutes an all-time African Cup of Nations record beating the previous best of 93 in Burkina Faso, 1998.

So to the awards. The winner of the Golden Boot for 2008 will I am sure come as no surprise to many. In fact, if you were to ask anyone who knows anything about football pre-tournament who they would tip for the Golden Boot, a vast majority would have put their money on this man. Even at the tender age of 26 he can surely be considered an African great, and this Barcelona star has not only ended up as the competition's hottest marksman but has also surpassed Laurent Pokou in becoming the all-time leading goalscorer in African Cup of Nations history. Have you guessed who it is yet? Yes indeed, Samuel Eto'o's five goals make him the winner of this year's Golden Boot. Hats off to you Mr. Eto'o, truly a great striker. Runners-up included three Egyptians and an Angolan.


We now move onto settling the matter of the Just-Football Cup of Nations League Contribution Crown, or J.F.C.N.L.C.C for short. (Hmm, must come up with a better acronym). Well it was a contest full of intrigue involving no fewer than 21 leagues from around the world - as true an indicator as any that in terms of international appeal the African Cup of Nations, and indeed its players' stock has never been higher.

The race for the crown began with the U.A.E. League leading the way largely - in fact solely thanks to Sofiane Alloudi's hat-trick for Morocco against Namibia in the opening set of group games. As the competition wore on however, France's Ligue Une and the English Premier League began to take control of the proceedings. With both league's containing a far more populous amount of African players it was perhaps inevitable that they would lead the way in the goalscoring charts and this proved to be the case. However, on account of Amr Zaki, Hosni Abd Rabou and Mohamed Aboutreika all chipping in with goals on a regular basis as the tournament wore on, the Egyptian Premier League soon started to challenge France and England's premier competitions for the League Contribution crown.


In the end it became a three horse race between France, Egypt and England as Spain's Primera Liga lagged behind in fourth, and ultimately, with a contribution of 22 goals the inaugural J.F.C.N.L.C.C ended up in the hands of France's Ligue Une. They beat the English Premier League by three goals with the Egyptian Premier League in 3rd place. Narrowly defeated, the Premiership was left to rue the fact that Manucho's move to Manchester United stalled due to work permit reasons, as his 4 goal contribution would have swung this hotly contested race in its favour. Alas, it was not meant to be for them, and in turn we offer our congratulations to Ligue Une.

So there you have it. With the honours dished out we close the curtains on a quite extraordinary Cup of Nations, particularly in goalscoring terms, with two new all-time records achieved. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did, and thanks for reading.
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Goalwatch background: The 2008 African Cup of Nations is well underway and has already displayed its capacity to entertain with some fascinating matches full of goals, drama and fervent outpourings of emotion both on the pitch and in the stands. In fact, the tournament’s continued growth in stature and the increasing amount of attention it now receives has got me thinking. I mean, one million visitors are expected in Ghana for the competition and a record 16,000 journalists sought accreditation for the event. Over 80 European based players have headed for West Africa, some amongst the finest talents in the game, and most will be sorely missed by their clubs over the next month. Is it possible that, perhaps, Africa’s football festival is deflecting some attention away from the major European leagues? It wouldn’t dare, would it? If it is, could this have anything to do with Sepp Blatter forming a strategic committee to investigate ‘possibilities for change,’ in the tournament schedule in order to ‘suit the interests of everybody?’ Surely after all, we cannot allow an event that seems to have crept up out of nowhere to start impacting on real football, can we?

Well in order to redress the balance, and in a much needed attempt to deflect some of the limelight back onto club football, Just-Football will be tracking exactly which leagues contribute the most goals to the competition. Hopefully, by doing this domestic football will not feel in any way out in the cold, and Uncle Sepp will finally be able to sleep at night. There there Uncle Sepp.

Goalscorers:

Samuel Eto'o x 5 (FC Barcelona)

Mohamed Aboutreika x4 (Al-Ahly)
Amr Zaki x4 (Zamalek)
Manucho Goncalves x4 (Petro Atletico)
Hosni Abd Rabou x 4 (Ismaily)

Boubacar Sanogo x3 (Werder Bremen)
Sulley Muntari x3 (Portsmouth)
Junior Agogo x3 (Nottingham Forest)
Abdelkader Keita x3 (Olympique Lyonnais)
Salomon Kalou x3 (Chelsea)
Didier Drogba x3 (Chelsea)
Soufiane Alloudi x 3 (Al-Ain)

Michael Essien x2 (Chelsea)
Geremi Njitap x2 (Newcastle United)
Joseph Desire Job x2 (Nice)
Stephane Mbia x2 (Rennes)
Christopher Katongo x2 (Brondby)
Pascal Feindouno x 2 (St.Etienne)
Francileudo dos Santos x2 (Toulouse)
Chaouki Ben Saada x2 (Bastia)
Elrio van Heerden x2 (Club Brugges)
Yakubu Aiyegbeni x2 (Everton)
Mohamed Zidan x 2 (Hamburger SV)
Brian Brendell x2 (Civics)

Asamoah Gyan (Udinese)
Oumar Kalabane (Vestel Manisaspor)
Tarik Sektioui (Porto)
Monsef Zerka (Nancy)
Fredi Kanoute (Sevilla)
James Chamanga (Moroka Swallows FC)
Jacob Mulenga (RC Strasbourg)
Felix Katongo (Petro Atletico)
Issam Jemaa (Caen)
Moustapha Bayal Sall (St. Etienne)
Diomansy Kamara (Fulham)
Mejdi Traoui (Étoile Sportive du Sahel)
Ismael Bangoura (Dinamo Kyiv)
Hicham Aboucherouane (Esperance)
Abdeslam Ouaddou (Valenciennes)
Yaya Toure (Barcelona)
Aruna Dindane (Lens)
Razak Omotoyossi (Helsingborgs)
Achille Emana (Toulouse)
Abdoulaye Diagne Faye (Newcastle United)
Flavio (Al-Ahly)
Katlego Mphela (Supersport United)
Souleymane Youla (Lille)
Marc Zoro (Benfica)
John Obi Mikel (Chelsea)
Henri Camara (West Ham United)
Bakary Kone (Nice)
Yassine Chikhaoui (FC Zurich)
Alain Nkong (Atlante)
Ahmed Fathi (Al-Ahly)
Quincy Owusu Abeyie (Celta Vigo)
Haminu Dramani (Lokomotiv Moscow)

Yousef Alaeldin (OG)

Leagues and Goal contributions:

22 goals - French Ligue Une

19 goals - English Premier League

14 goals - Egyptian Premier League

8 goals - Spanish Primera Liga

5 goals - Girabola, Angolan Championship
5 goals - German Bundesliga

3 goals - UAE League
3 goals - English League One

2 goals - ABSA Premier League, South Africa
2 goals - Namibian Premier League
2 goals - Portuguese Liga
2 goals - Jupiler League, Belgium
2 goals - Tunisian Premier League
2 goals - Danish Superliga

1 goal - Italian Serie A
1 goal - Turkish Premier Super League
1 goal - Swiss Super League
1 goal - Swedish Allsvenskan
1 goal - Vyscha Liha, Ukrainian Premier League
1 goal - Mexican Primera League
1 goal - Russian Premier League

Party Like Its 99...

Egypt celebrates as Mohamed Aboutreika's 77th minute strike seals their 6th African Cup of Nations triumph. His goal was the 99th in the tournament, the highest number of goals scored in any Cup of Nations in history, handing Egypt a 1-0 win over Cameroon and prompting wild celebrations in the streets of Cairo.

African Cup of Nations 2008: Cameroon vs Egypt - The Final

It began with a burst of colour, song and dance. People cheered and admired the entertainment on offer. The longing anticipation only added to the fervour, for in Ghana it had been a long time coming. There were roars of approval, cacophonies of laughter and a hubbub of enthusiastic noise. You could feel the electricity in the Accra air. And that was just the opening ceremony. Then Sulley Muntari stepped up and belted in a 25-yard screamer. Like a slap in the face, that thunderbolt of a strike announced the arrival of the African Cup of Nations 2008, and at that point you suspected that, just maybe, something special was afoot. Now after three quite mesmerizing weeks we come to the grand finale.

Two of the most successful countries in African football history go head-to-head in Accra on Sunday as holders Egypt take on Cameroon in the 26th African Cup of Nations final. Three weeks of thrilling football, exciting goals and carnival atmospheres have passed and now, at the business end of the tournament, this game will finally determine who goes home with the crown of Africa’s finest. In a rematch of the opening game in Group C it is either Pharaohs or Indomitable Lions that will hold their heads high on Sunday evening as North take on West for the ultimate prize in African football. The stakes could hardly be higher.

Route to the Final

Cameroon

Cameroon began the tournament with a 4-2 defeat to their opponents in the final, Egypt. Particularly lacklustre in the first half, Otto Pfister’s side looked sharper in the second period but by then the damage had already been done and Egypt took the points. Little did the sides know then that the battle lines had only just been drawn, and they would go on to meet in far more important circumstances later.

The defeat left the Lions needing to rack up points against both Zambia and Sudan for a place in the quarter finals. This they did with little trouble, beating Zambia 5-1 and the Nile Crocodiles 3-0. Samuel Eto’o broke a personal milestone in becoming the Cup of Nations’ highest goalscorer of all time, beating Laurent Pokou’s record. In truth though the Cameroonians did not look at their best and were more functional than enthralling. Geremi weighed in with a worthy contribution while offering his usual prowess from free kicks, Achille Emana impressed, and in Alexander Song, coach Otto Pfister found an emerging star. He held the midfielder together excellently, relegating Jean Makoun to the bench. Cameroon finished on six points, second in the group.

In the quarter finals the Lions were paired with Tunisia. In an action-packed game the Tunisians came from 2-0 down to force extra time but Stephane Mbia’s extra time strike secured the victory and moved them into the semi finals where they faced Ghana. There, in a game full of tension, a defensively sound Cameroon remained composed and, with a counter-attacking goal of breathtaking speed and quality found the breakthrough in the 70th minute – Alain Nkong the scorer. Heartbreaking as it was for the hosts, they would bow out of the competition as the energy, strength and organisation of Pfister’s side saw the Lions through.

Egypt

As mentioned earlier, Egypt beat Cameroon in the opening group game. Mohamed Zidan introduced himself to the tournament with two wonderful goals, but injury has since hindered his impact on the competition. The Pharaohs went on without him though and followed that up with a 3-0 win over Sudan in a hotly contested derby. Mohamed Aboutreika and Hosni Abd Rabou stood out, demonstrating an impressive ability to dictate the tempo of a match through the midfield. Merely a prelude of the games to come. Aboutreika also made a name for himself but in controversial circumstances, unveiling a ‘Sympathy for Gaza’ t-shirt after scoring Egypt’s second. He earned a booking and a warning from FIFA for his actions.

After a 1-1 draw with Zambia in what was really more of a formality, coach Hassan Shehata and his men moved on to the quarter finals where they took on Angola. In a fine, well balanced game Egypt held on for a 2-1 victory with a penalty from Hosni and a rather fortuitous goal off the chest of an unwitting Amr Zaki. Nonetheless, in the second half of that match Egypt showed just why they are so strong, with a remarkable display of possession football that ruthlessly sucked the life out of the less experienced Angolans. Solid in defence and finely tuned as a unit, the North Africans began to demonstrate just why they are the current champions.

The true test was yet to come though, as they took on the all-conquering Côte d’Ivoir